Ericaceae
Great laurel
Rhododendron maximum
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Genus
- Rhododendron
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Common names
By language (5)
- Chinese
- 极大杜鹃
- Danish
- Rhododendron 'Maximum'
- Dutch
- Różanecznik olbrzymi
- English
- Great laurel
- Spanish
- Arbol rosa, Gran laurel, Gran rododendro, Laurel de hoja grande, Laurel lengua de ciervo, Rododendro de verano, Rododendro tardio, Rododendro tardío
Synonyms
- Hymenanthes maxima (L.) H.F.Copel.
- Rhododendron ashleyi Coker
- Rhododendron bigener Steud.
- Rhododendron fragrans DC.
- Rhododendron latifolium Hoffmanns.
- Rhododendron maximum f. album (Pursh) Fernald
- Rhododendron maximum f. apetalum V.V.Byalt & Firsov
- Rhododendron maximum f. maximum
- Rhododendron maximum f. purpureum (Pursh) Fernald
- Rhododendron maximum var. album Pursh
- Rhododendron maximum var. purpureum Pursh
- Rhododendron procerum Salisb.
- Rhododendron purpureum (Pursh) G.Don
- Rhododendron purshii G.Don
- Rhododendron tigrinum Steud.
Flowers
- Flower colour
- red (USDA PLANTS Database)
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Shrub, Tree
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- In the US and Canada
- Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native
Toxicity: Moderate, as listed by the USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29). USDA rates how toxic a plant is to people or livestock; it is not a pet-safety rating, so ask a vet or poison line if a pet or child ate it.
Plant problems
Notches in rhododendron leaves: causes and fixesNotches in rhododendron leaves usually mean root weevils. Learn how to spot them, remove adults, and check for root damage.
Rhododendron leaves curling in cold weatherRhododendron leaves often curl naturally in cold weather. Learn how to spot normal winter rolling, prevent drying, and recognize damage.
Photos
Photo: Arx Fortis, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
More in Rhododendron
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- Rhododendron luteumEricaceae
- Hairy alpenroseRhododendron hirsutumEricaceae
- Lapland rosebayRhododendron lapponicumEricaceae
- Rusty labrador-teaRhododendron groenlandicumEricaceae
- Rhododendron dauricumEricaceae
- JindallaeRhododendron mucronulatumEricaceae
- Rhododendron schlippenbachiiEricaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.